At the annual State of the Community Luncheon on Wednesday, June 19, Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar highlighted four areas that are key focal points for City Hall.

Redlands officials are intent on keeping the city on sound financial ground, helping existing businesses and encouraging new ones to move in, keeping neighborhoods safe and improving the cityâs streets, sidewalks, underground pipelines and other infrastructure.

Until recently, streets throughout Redlands were in bad shape, Aguilar said.

âWe can and will do better,â he said.

In 2012, the City Council approved a multi-million-dollar initiative to repave two-thirds of the cityâs streets over the next several years. Funding is coming from a trash rate increase and transfers from the cityâs water and wastewater accounts, among other places.

The program is well under way.

âPeople are noticing the improvements already,â Aguilar said.

The Redlands Chamber of Commerce presented Wednesdayâs luncheon at the Orton Center at the University of Redlands. Nearly every seat was taken at the tables decorated with small American flags and Southern California Gas Co. napkin holders. The utility sponsored the affair.

During a portion of the program reserved for questions and answers, the mayor was asked if the city was going to do anything about water pipe leaks, which seem to occur frequently.

âWeâre an old city. We have old infrastructure,â Aguilar said.

City employees are coordinating the pavement program with work on underground pipes so that everything is done at the same time, he said.

In the area of finances, Aguilar said Redlands staff and officials have worked to get the cityâs financial affairs in order over the past seven years. The city now has a balanced budget and money in reserve, he said.

âWeâve had a good track record,â Aguilar said.

But officials cannot take their eyes off the ball, he added, especially at a time when the economy is less than certain.

Follow Erin Waldner on Twitter @PE_ErinWaldner and online at blog.pe.com/author/ewaldner

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